Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-05-28
RESURRECTION!
The Land that FIourished, Bloomed and Died to
 Live Again!
The Great Canal Enterprise and the Benefits that will
 Come OfIt.

From point few miles above Flor ence and stretching away as far as the eye can discern to the southward, west and southwest, lies an un broken mesa of waterless but extremely fertile land. Ira ditions, supported by still visible ruins of ancient canals and reservoirs, lead to the irresistible belief that the tattered and stained pages of Time must somewhere contain fragmentary records of period when dense population of frugal, indus trious and intelligent people titled the soil of this bread plain and won the sweet favor of Saturn's fond daughter, Ceres, under circumstances that the world can now contemplate only with profound wonder. The frequent mounds that mark the ceaseless labors of the obliter- atlng influences of toiling ages, tell of stately habitatiens and of towns, with here and there temple of worship in which sacred ministrations were dispsns- ed and the devout worshipsrs bent the supple hinges of the knee iE offering up oblations to the ever living God to whom they had been taught implicit faith and fealty.
 That these prehistoric people to whose footprints the new life of the civilized world is new returning, displayed the acme of wisdom in selecting of all other places, the broad mesa bordering the beautiful valley of the Gila for their peaceful and happy homes, no one who has studied the characteristic advantages of this particular section will deny. Their canals brought them plentiful supply of the fructifying water from the Gila river, and their broad and fertile acres were exubslant of perennial vsge- tation.
 The causes of ths extinction or banish- mont of these industrious people can only be conjeotured. The warhke tribes of Indians that have infested the country since the discovery of the western hem isphere have no traditions embracing the terrible scenes that doubtless accom- panied their eviction. The savage mo- mads probably swept down upon them in vast hordes while they were engaged in their peaceful avecatlons, and drove them far away to perish upon the barren dos erts to the southward; wantonly laid waste their property, and then passed on to other scenes of blosdshsd and plunder 50 familiar that no special field of carnage was deemed worthy of handing down as examples of their deeds of valor.
 Upon these broad and fertile mesa lands once teeming with life and activity, history will so far repeat itself that in this respect the now barren desert will be made to again blossom as the rose. and thousands upon thousands of beautiful and happy homes will arise above the mysterious ruins in fulfllment of the di. vine command. The time has come for the inevitable change and the opportuni- ty is ripe.
 Money, enterprise and intelligence have combined to again turn portion of the abundant waters ef the Gila river, by nearly the same course as that in which they were diverted in the obscursd ages of the twilight of Time, and upon the same lands once titled by the ancient pio- nesrs of whom so little is really known. The jealous antiquarian might regard this rejuvenation, or rather resurrection, of the ashes of dead civilization as piece of wicked vandalism, but the bard of the future will weave brilliant wool of sen- timent with the warp of old and new his- tory into a web of song that will live on forever, sxtolling the unfolding and startling beauties of destiny and evolu- tion.
 The work of reclam ation was not of &C., cidental or recent conception. Practical men have reasoned that one day in the uncertain future the evident design of provident nature must be accomplished, and to-day they can witness almost the fuEfrultion of those early hopes. h. deed, when the belching blaze of the booming cannon stirs patriotic blood into fervor that IS surpassed only by the Fourth of July orator as he scars aloft astride the emblematie bird of Liberty, the same event will likew celebrate the completion of the grand Florence ca nal to this place, a distance of eleven miles. The water will then be turned i'll and from this point the work of construc- tion will be resumed until by the main canal and its lateral branches nearly 150, 900 acres of new land is brought under it's irrigating capability-enough to sup port in direct and indirect way, per manent population of over 30, ,000 people
 The Florence canal and water company was organized early in 1886, and the work was started in April of that year A question then arose as to the right oi way across a portion of the Pima Indian reservation, and pending its adjustment all construction work ceased. In July last amended articles of incorporation were filed and upon February 1st, of th' present year, all obstacles being settled work was resumed and has been steadily prosecuted since that time. The incor psrators are, MT. D. S. Thomas, Presi dent; T. J. Wrampelmier, Vice Presi dent; J. M. Hurley, Secretary and treas urer; Chas. Hall and John Vail. The are residents of Carthage, Mo-, and For Smith, Ark. Mr. Thomas was the build CT and part owner of the water works a